Author Topic: Gas Tank - Keep it or purchase a new one?  (Read 3170 times)

duffelpud

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Gas Tank - Keep it or purchase a new one?
« on: May 18, 2011, 18:34:48 »
I recently dropped the tank on my '68 250sl to clean and inspect its condition.  I purchase the Bill Hirsch tank repair kit with the intention of using it, if needed.  After applying a couple of rounds of degreaser to the tank's insides and scrubbing the exterior with a brush, a number of pinholes have appeared on the top of the tank but not the bottom.  This car sat for about six years, and I speculate moisture in the fuel condensed on the roof of the tank and slowly ate through.  Most of the pinholes are, well, the size of a pin, but a couple are almost as big as keyholes.  I have read several recommendations against repair in favor of replacement.  Is this a consensus and, if so, what are some good values for procuring this item?

66andBlue

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Re: Gas Tank - Keep it or purchase a new one?
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2011, 23:24:06 »
Purchase a new one.
Here is the latest discussion of this always popular topic: http://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=14566.0
If you need more discussions,  search for "fuel tank" and in "User name" type in "mdsalemi", he is the resident expert on this topic.  ;)
Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

Jordan

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Re: Gas Tank - Keep it or purchase a new one?
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2011, 11:47:53 »
I agree with Alfred and Mike, purchase a new one.  My tank was full of gunge and rust, 1-2in thick and packed in really well, when I bought the car.  It didn't have holes but I didn't want to have further fuel delivery issues in a few years when the coating starts coming off so I got a new one.  If you have holes you can bet there are other areas where the metal is paper thin.
Marcus
66 230SL  Euro 4 speed

Benz Dr.

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Re: Gas Tank - Keep it or purchase a new one?
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2011, 13:50:06 »
That's not entirely true. My gas tank guy can fix almost anything but it comes down to how much labor it would take to do the repair.
 The coating fix some people recommend isn't that great an option either. The ethanol in modern fuels has a way of attacking that stuff. That same ethanol will actually remove water from your tank and move it through the system. After all, isn't gas line anti freeze methyl hydrate which is basically ethanol?
1966 230SL 5 speed, LSD, header pipes, 300SE distributor, ported, polished and balanced, AKA  ''The Red Rocket ''
Dan Caron's SL Barn

1970  3.5 Coupe
1961  190SL
1985   300CD  Turbo Coupe
1981  300SD
2013  GMC  Sierra
1965  230SL
1967 250SL
1970 280SL
1988 560SEC